Aberdeen Reflects on Bin Laden's Death

John Cavanagh stood in front of the "Aberdeen—All America City" sign on Route 40, waving the American flag as drivers honked their horns and gave the thumbs-up sign as they drove by.

“We finally got him,” Cavanagh said of fallen al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. “Praise God for that. But they probably will retaliate.”

Cavanagh and others around Aberdeen were excited Monday because President Barack Obama confirmed late Sunday that bin Laden was killed by American forces in a firefight in Pakistan. U.S. personnel took custody of the body and subsequently buried it at sea.

Cavanagh, 74, of Northeast, attended Havre de Grace High School and had served in the 729th Ordnance Battalion of Havre de Grace.

“One thing about the United States is that we don’t usually go for the long haul and our enemies rely on that,” Cavanagh said. “It took a long time but we finally got him.”

Bin Laden had eluded U.S. attempts to bring him to justice for nearly a decade for ordering the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

Aberdeen Mayor Michael E. Bennett said this development brought him pride as the mayor of the city that houses the Army’s oldest and largest active proving ground.

“I believe that this news brings closure to a lot of us regarding 9/11,” Bennett said. “I am so very proud of our war fighters and am very proud to be associated with all of the wonderful men and women of the armed forces and especially Aberdeen Proving Ground.”

Harford County Council Vice President Richard Slutzky, a retired Marine who worked at Aberdeen High School for 31 years, said bin Laden’s death has an even greater significance.

“After years of effort, we demonstrated that we could complete the mission,” Slutzky said.

Others in the community had mixed reactions.

Jessica Mathios, who lives on base at APG, was excited that a portion of the war is over.

“My second reaction was sorrow for his soul,” Mathios said of bin Laden. “He’s going to be in hell and that’s a bad place to be.”

Army Vietnam veteran Bob Hanson, 65, who was sharing a drink with friends at Bernard L. Tobin Post 128 of the American Legion, was elated.

“I think it’s been good. I mean they been after him about 10 years,” Hanson said.

Bernard L. Tobin Post 128 Commander Joseph M Rachuba said he was pleased with the efficiency of the operation.

“They got it done and they got it done right,” Rachuba said. “But I heard on the news that the guy to take over is twice as bad as [bin Laden] was so where are we?”

VFW 1028 Commander Robert D. Brown said the circumstances raise questions about the Pakistani government’s allegiance to the United States.

“He was hiding right out in the open,” Brown said.

Bin Laden was found in a walled compound not far from a Pakistani military training school.

“It was right underneath their nose,” Brown said.

Army World War II veteran Douglas Gregg, 87, who was relaxing at the Aberdeen Senior Center, held a different view.

“The people who are doing most of the talking have the wrong attitude,” Gregg said. “We haven’t really won anything.”

(Aberdeen Patch Correspondent Jamal Powell contributed to this report.)